The Low-Ranking Civil Servant Wants to Achieve Success - Chapter 103

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 103
“…What?”
“You’re one of the Crown Prince’s people, aren’t you?”
“….”
“Everything makes sense now. The Empress finding you suspicious, your extraordinary physical abilities—it all fits.”
Kibon’s eyes darted nervously, his expression deeply flustered. Of course, I hadn’t brought this up to interrogate him.
“Did the Crown Prince explain things to you? We’re no longer just Scroll Department employees—we’re working together for the Crown Prince now.”
I continued warmly.
“But I’m still unclear about your actual rank. If you’re some high-ranking official in a secret organization, then you’re not really part of the Scroll Department anymore, and it would be awkward for me to keep ordering you around like before….”
“You may order me as you wish.”
In essence, I was trying to clarify the chain of command, and Kibon, who had been standing silently with a bewildered expression, spoke quickly.
“You are my superior. You may command me to do anything.”
“Ah, really? Truly?”
It was a reassuring answer.
But I was still concerned about potential promotions, so I probed carefully.
“For how long?”
Kibon looked directly at me and answered without hesitation.
“Forever.”
Was there a ceiling on advancement for someone of foreign origin?
In any case, if that’s what he said, there was no reason to object.
So I immediately gave him an assignment.
“First, go by the Scroll Department Office. I need you to find something for me.”
“What should I search for?”
“When I was a junior staff member, I was conducting personal research to pass the time… but after the department cleaning, I can’t remember where I put it. I’m certain I didn’t throw it away.”
I met Kibon’s gaze as I continued.
“You don’t need to search yourself—just relay the message to Anastasia and Victor.”
It pained me to suspect one of them, but precisely because of that, I felt I needed to catch the culprit quickly to put my mind at ease.
“It’s a research report on special scrolls made from blood instead of scroll ink. If you find it, contact me immediately.”
“Yes.”
“And ask them to reserve the Production Workshop under my name during my vacation. You probably won’t be able to access it—only Team Leader rank and above have authorization.”
“Yes.”
“Finally, deliver this letter to the Crown Prince on your way back.”
“Understood.”
Kibon answered as usual, then spoke while meeting my eyes.
“Please don’t go out alone without me, and if there’s anything uncomfortable, tell me anytime. Even in the middle of the night is fine.”
Only after Kibon left did I grasp the meaning of his words.
From now on, there would be no such thing as clocking out—Kibon would be waiting for me at all times.
* * *
Kiaros was busy.
He had gone to the Scroll Department in Kibon’s form and delivered Namia’s message, and he had also met with the Emperor in his own form to hear about the interrogation of the Minister of Education.
“What a peculiar thing to say. Through experimentation, you perceived this world like a book and could foresee the future.”
“A book, you say….”
“That’s why I suspect you were able to predict your second period of darkness….”
The Emperor chuckled softly.
“When your second period of darkness arrived, they attacked in perfect timing, so wouldn’t their knowledge of the future have changed? Which means it’s useless now.”
“Then they likely conducted a similar experiment. To learn this new future.”
“Precisely. But it seems I don’t know that much.”
Kiaros furrowed his brow with a grave expression.
Even for Yongin, dealing with those who knew the future didn’t seem easy.
“By the way, Kiaros….”
The Emperor grasped his son’s hand with a worried face.
“I heard you kidnapped and confined Namia. That was consensual, correct?”
“If it were consensual from the start, it wouldn’t be kidnapping and confinement….”
“No, I’m just so anxious about it.”
The Emperor snorted and huffed.
Kiaros sighed and took a sip of the water before him.
“Seducing ordinary humans isn’t difficult. We have appearance, wealth, status, and power. I thought your love would be easy since she seemed to like all those things, but I’ve become certain through this banquet that it somehow won’t work.”
“That’s true.”
“The Minister of Finance mentioned that Namia is drawn more to subordinates than superiors like you. She’s not the type to feel love while pleasing someone or bowing before them….”
“That’s also true.”
“What if, really, your eyes meet with the youngest of the Scroll Department? Hmm?”
“Pfft—!”
In any case, the youngest of the Scroll Department was Kibon. Kiaros spat out the water he was drinking.
“I spoke with the Empress last time, and she said that intern secretary is quite delicate. Shouldn’t you dismiss them quickly?”
“I, I should take my leave now.”
“Kiaros, avoidance isn’t the answer…. It seems that person will truly be a difficult target to win over. Why not make another confession?”
The Emperor grabbed Kiaros’s sleeve as he tried to stand, speaking urgently.
“Yes. But I’ll handle it myself.”
“No, how do you intend to solve this serious problem!”
“There’s a bigger problem than that, so I don’t need to think about how to solve that one.”
At Kiaros’s serious words, the Emperor clutched the back of his neck.
Kiaros sighed deeply and left the Emperor’s chamber, heading to his own room.
His face was filled with profound exhaustion.
‘What on earth am I going to do about this.’
The moment Kiaros arrived at his room, he breathed heavily and pondered.
His Aide immediately followed, bringing a stack of documents.
“Your Highness, here are the reports from the Ravens.”
“…I see….”
It was background investigation material on Anastasia and Victor.
However, because the Emperor had turned everything upside down with talk of ‘confessions’ and ‘problems,’ his eyes couldn’t focus properly.
I was aware that Namia had many suspicious aspects about her.
However, ever since my conversation with the Emperor, I’d already begun imagining a future where all my questions about her would be resolved.
“Listen.”
Kiaros spoke in a tone that was, for him, remarkably cautious.
“What if, hypothetically speaking, just suppose—what if.”
“…Are you speaking to me right now?”
The Aide asked in alarm. Kiaros furrowed his brow and replied.
“Then who else is here besides you?”
“No, it’s just that I’ve never seen the Crown Prince so tense before…. Actually, even when you proposed to Namia, you didn’t seem this nervous.”
“That’s not a memory I care to be reminded of.”
“My apologies. I swear I will never again mention the fact that Your Highness arranged the entire wedding ceremony and then got rejected.”
“Anyway.”
Kiaros took a deep breath and continued.
“Suppose there was someone who deceived you for a long time while hiding their true identity. You fell for it completely.”
“Oh.”
The Aide’s eyes gleamed with interest.
“That’s a real piece of work, isn’t it? Deceiving someone for so long—that’s vicious and sinister.”
“Now, what if that vicious and sinister person confessed their true identity and told you they actually like you?”
“What? What truth?”
“That I’ve been deceiving you all this time, and the truth is I’m actually someone you could never have imagined, but truthfully I like you, something like that….”
The Aide immediately waved his hand and cried out.
“Ugh, that’s disgusting! Absolutely shameless! Repulsive! Horrifying!”
“Now, wait a moment….”
“All the good times we spent together become meaningless! And I’d be drowning in a swamp of distrust, never knowing how else you might deceive me! I’d be so furious I’d want to throw water in your face without even hearing you say you had fun toying with me!”
Kiaros squeezed his eyes shut. His head was spinning.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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